Dipper door structure



April 16, 1957 P. v. LARSEN DIPPER DOOR STRUCTURE 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1955 fzz-Jezzioz" Larsen w' fW ogz i omeys Pea] p 9 lirhl April 16, 1957 P. v. LARSEN 2,788,907

DIPPER DOOR STRUCTURE Filed July 27, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [ZZZ/ 72202 PazzzZ Mlazti'e'zz g 0 ZZ0272qg5 p 6, 1957 P. v. LARSEN 2,788,907

DIPPER DOOR STRUCTURE Z QZZZ JLQZSQZZ at- 5 QW W YMM' 25 i o Z-Zi'arzzega United States Patent DIPPER noon STRUCTURE Paul V. Larsen, Portland, Greg, assignor to Electric Steel Foundry Company, a corporation of Oregon Application July 27, 1955, Serial No. 524,697

13 Claims. (Cl. 214-145) This invention relates to a dipper door structure, and more particularly to the mounting of a dipper door upon the dipper hinge bars.

In structures of the general type to which this invention relates, the dipper is open at its forward end to provide a mouth through which materials are loaded into the chamber provided by the dipper. The rear end of the dipper is open, but a door is provided that is movable between open and closed positions, the door being opened to dump a load carried by the dipper and being closed during loading of the dipper. The dipper door is secured to hinge bars and the hinge bars, in turn, are pivotally motmted upon the dipper so as to permit the door to be swung between open and closed positions. The dipper will be mounted on a power shovel and the shovel equipped-with means for selectively opening and closing the dipper door. The present invention is concerned with a means for securing the dipper door to the dipper hinge bars.

An object of the invention is to provide a quick and accessible arrangement for positively securing a dipper door to the dipper hinge bars. Another object of the invention is to provide a means for securing a dipper door to dipper hinge bars and in which a lesser number of parts are employed than in conventional structures. Still another object is in the provision of means for accurately locating, securely fastening, and locking a dipper door in position on the dipper hinge bars, all in a single operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for securing a dipper door to the dipper hinge bars wherein lock members or wedges are employed and are oriented transversely of the hinge bars and preferably at right angles with respect thereto, whereby the normal tendency of the dipper door to move axially relative to the bars as a result of the forces developed in use of the dipper, is positively prevented. Still a further object is in the provision of a structure as described wherein a pair of hinge bars are employed, each positively locked at spaced points to the dipper door. The lock members or wedges employed with the respective hinge bars are oppositely positioned or arranged in opposing pairs so as to lock the door against movement in transverse directions with respect to the hinge bar-s through an automatic increase in the frictional resistance that develops between the hinge bars and door upon the slightest movement of the door transversely with respect to the hinge bars.

Yet a further object is in providing lock members or wedges cooperative with the hinge bars and with complementary yokes provided by a dipper door, the wedges having reinforcing webs at the points of greatest force application thereagainst. Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view in elevation of a dipper embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a face view in elevation of a dipper door and dipper hinge bars as viewed along the "ice line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the lock members or wedges; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 9 is a broken perspective view in enlarged form of one of the four securing arrangements illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2.

The invention is particularly suited for use with dippers having a dump door swingable between open and closed positions and is, therefore, illustrated in Fig. 1 in conjunction with such a dipper. In Fig. l the dipper is designated generally with the numeral 10, and it is seen that the door 11 theerof is in closed position. The door 11 is carried by hinge bars 12 and 12a, and is secured to the hinge bars by the mounting arrangements designated generally with the numerals 13 and 14, with reference to hinge bar 12, and the numerals 13a and respectively with reference to the hinge bar 120. The hinge bars are mounted for pivotal movement about an axis defined by the pivot shaft 15. The forward end, or end opposite the door 11 of the dipper 10 is opened so as material can be pushed into the compartment provided by the dipper through the forward end thereof. Generally dippers are equipped with points or teeth 16, as shown in Fig. 1. Since dippers of the character illustrated are well known in the art, it is believed that a further description thereof is unnecessary for purposes of adequately describing and disclosing the present invention. For purposes of simplifying the drawings and disclosure, a latch mechanism for the door has not been illustrated in Fig. 2.

The hinge bars 12 and 12a are substantially identical in construction, and in the detailed description to follow only one of the hinge bars will be fully described. Similarly, the securing arrangements 13, 14, 13a and 14a are all substantiallyidentical and a detailed description of only one of these arrangements will be set forth herein. It is clear from Fig. 2 that the arrangements 13 and 14 are oriented in the same direction and similarly, :the arrangements 13a and 14a are oriented in the same direction. On the other hand, the arrangements 13 and 13a are facing in opposite directions as are the arrangements 14 and 14a. With this exception, all of the arrangements are identical and function in substantially the same way, although the oppositely paired arrangements 13 and 13a, for example, function, in a sense, in opposition to each other.

As is shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, the hinge bar 12 is generally I-shaped, or more specifically, has the configuration of a rail. The hinge bar, then, has a base flange 17, a web 18, and a top or outer flange 19. Adjacent the securing arrangements Band 14 the web 18 of the bar is enlarged, as is shown at 20 and 21. The enlargements 2i) and 21 have an opening 22 extending therethrough transversely of the hinge bar. Since the bar 12 is pro: vided with an opening 22 adjacent each of the securing arrangements, it is apparent that each bar is provided with two openings therethrough and generally each of these openings is positioned adjacent one end of the dipper door 11.

As is apparent from Fig. 9, as well as other figures of the drawings, cushioning members 23, which may be in the form of elongated strips of rubber, or other suitable material, are interposed between the outer face of the dipper door 11 and the inner faces of the hinge bar flanges 17 for relieving the severity of the impact when the door is brought forcibly to its closed position or when heavy material, such as a rock, is thrown against the inner face of the door. While the cushioning strips may be formed .of various materials, they are preferably cut from woven standard rubber belting material which assures great durability, and at the same time has the requisite degree of resiliency for taking up the shock of a blow of the door. against the dipper.

The securing arrangement 14comprises a yoke or bracket 24, having a forward wall 25, and ribs '26 and 27, extending laterally therefrom'at substantially right angles for reinforcing the same. The forward or inner wall,25. is provided with a lip or flange 28 and has a generally rectangular opening 29 formed centrally there- .tlirough, as is seen most clearly in Fig. 3. The .top wall 30of the opening. 29 is inclined, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 3. As a result of this taper, the opening 29 is enlarged at its inner'end or adjacent the hinge bar 12, but is reduced in size adjacent the outer end or end most remote from the hinge bar.

Aligned with, but spaced from the bracket 24 is a yoke or bracket 31 that has a forward wall 32 and ribs or webs 33 and .34 extendingilaterally :therefrom at substantially right angles. At its outer end the wall 32 is equipped with an inwardly extending lip 35, and an opening 36 is provided through the wall .32 and has an inclined wall 37 that causes the opening 36 to be reduced in cross sectionatthe end thereof adjacent the bar 12 and to be enlarged at the end most remote from the bar. As is evident from Fig. 3, the inclined walls 30 and 37 have the same angle of inclination and lie in the same plane or define a plane. In effect, the .openings 29 and 36 may be viewed as a continuous opening that is enlarged at the outer. end thereof adjacent the bracket 31 and progressively decreases in cross section to the smallest end which is adjacent the bracket 24. The walls 28 and 32 and their respectivereinforcing webs may be formed integrally with the hinge door 11 as shown in Fig. 3.

The openings 29 and 36 are aligned with each other and when the hinge bar 12 is in position relative to the door 11, the opening 22 through the hinge bar is aligned with the openings 29 and 36. When the respective parts are in such position, all of the openings are conditioned for receiving a holder member or wedge 38 that has an enlarged end portion 39 and a reduced end portion 40. The'wedge, as viewed in Fig. 5, has top and bottom walls that are substantially parallel, has one straight side wall 41, and opposite that side wall a tapered side wall 42 that extends between the end portions 39 and 40. The taper or angular inclination of the wall 42 is complementary to the angular inclination of the walls 30 and 37, as is clear from Fig. 3, so that when the wedge 38 is positioned within the openings, the inclined wall 42 abuts and rides along the edges '30 and 37 of the openings 29 and 36. Considerable space,'however, is afiorded between the wall 42 and the flange 19 of the hinge bar 12, while the wall 41 of the wedge rides against the inner face of the flange 17 of the hinge bar.

Projecting outwardly from the reduced end 40 of the wedge is a threaded stud 43 that is adapted to receive thereabout a washer 44 and threadedly receives a nut 45 that bears against the wall 28 through the washer 44, and draws the wedge tightly into the openings 29, 22 and 36. If desired, a lock nut or locking washer 46 may be placed on the stud 43 to prevent rotation of the nut 45.

. As is perhaps most clear from Fig. 4, it is seen that the wedge 38 is equipped with a central beam 47 that extends longitudinally thereof between the end portions 39 and 40; The beam 47 has a relatively large and uniform cross section extending from the reduced end 40 of the wedge toward the center portion thereof. Thereafter the beam tapers to a reduced cross section at the enlarged end 39 of the wedge. interposed between the ends of the wedge are spaced-apart ribs, or reinforcing webs 48 and 49, and the end portions 39 and 40, 'in effect, provide reinforcing webs of the same character as the ribs 48 and 49. As is most apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, the webs or reinforcing ribs of the wedge 38 are located adjacent the points of greatest force application on the web. That is, specifically, the end 40 is interposed between the bracket 24 and the hinge bar 12, the rib 49 is interposed between the bracket 31 and hinge bar, and the rib 48 being inter-' posed between the brackets 24 and 31 serve to reinforce the wedge at the center point of its bearing engagement with the hinge bar.

In assembly of the structure, the hinge bars 12 and 12a are positioned, with respect to the door 11, in a manner shown 2 with the openings 22 in the hinge bars in alignment with the openings 29'and 36 in the brackets of each securing means assembly '13, 14, 13a and 14a 7 By referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 9 it will be seen that the brackets 24 and 31 of each securing means assembly defines a channel therebetween through which the hinge bars may be moved longitudinally to bring about the alignment of the openings 22 at each point along the hinge bars into alignment with the openings in the brackets.

Thereafter the holding members or wedges 38 are driven into the openings and into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. For such insertion, the inclined wall 42 of each Wedge is simply oriented adjacent the inclined wall of the opening 36 and also of the opening 29. Thereafter the reduced end portion 40 of the wedge is moved through the enlarged opening 36 and toward the opening of smaller cross section 29. When in place, the washer 44 and nut 45 are positioned on the threaded stud 43 and the wedge is drawn tightly into place by tightening of the nut 45.

This operation brings about an automatic alignment or positioning of the door 11 relative to the hinge bars for as the wedge is driven into place any slight misalignment of the door and hinge bars is corrected by the action of the wedge moving into the various openings. The hinge bars are firmly secured to the door by the wedging action of the wedge 38, which incrementally increases the bearing engagement of the hinge bars against the resilient cushion 23 and therethrough against the door 11.

In operation, any tendency of the door 11 to shift laterally with respect to the hinge bars is prevented by the action of the wedges in each of the holding or securing assemblies. As noted in Fig. 2, the wedges are oriented in opposite directions along the respective hinge bars 12 and 120. As a result, if the door 11 tends to move toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the wedges 38 along the hinge bar 12 will prevent such shifting for the slightest shift toward the right of the hinge door 11 with respect to the hinge bar 12 and wedges 38 in the assemblies 13 and 14 will increase the frictional force' between the hinge bar, cushion 23 and door because of the wedging action of the wedge members. The converse is true if the door 11 tends to shift toward the left with respect to the hinge bar 12a and the wedges 38 in the assemblies 13a and 14a. Therefore, lateral shifting of the door is prevented apart from any abutment of the hinge bars with the walls 28 and 32' of the brackets 24 and 31.

Shifting of the door 11 along the axes of the hinge bars 12 and 12a is limited by the walls that define the openings 22 in the hinge bars. However, since the wedge members 38 extend transversely of the hinge bars and provide a large surface that frictionallyengages the flange 17 of each hinge bar, the frictional resistance afiorded by the wedge members, in addition to the frictional resistance between the door and flange 17 of. each hinge bar through the cushion members 23, prevents such shifting of the door even before the limits afforded by the walls of the openings 22 are reached.

The construction of the wedge members is such that the wedges are reinforced at the points of greatest force application thereto through the plurality of spaced apart ribs or webs, and at the same time each web member is reinforced by the beam that extends longitudinally through the center thereof. Thus, a strong wedge is provided, yet one that is relatively light weight, since portions of the wedge can be open and the wedge, then, need not be a solid block of material.

The rubber shims or cushion members 23 are important in that they function not only to absorb shock and relieve the severity of impact when the door is brought forcibly to its closed position, but they also aid in providing a firm mounting of the hinge bars upon the door 11. There is a slight yielding or compressing of the cushion members 23 when the wedges are drawn into position, and the inherent resiliency of the cushion members imposes an outward force against the members 17, or more specifically, provides a resilient bearing force between the members 11 and 17 that aids in anchoring the hinge bars firmly in place, whereby any tendency of the hinge bars to shift is further impeded.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of adequately disclosing and describing the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a dipper door structure, a pair of substantially parallel hinge bars extending in spaced-apart relation along said door, said door being provided with oppositely disposed pairs of yokes, each pair being adapted to receive a hinge bar therebetween, each of said pairs of yokes having transverse openings of complementary taper extending therethrough, the openings of opposite pairs of yokes being tapered in opposite directions, each of said hinge bars having a transverse opening therethrough aligned with the tapered openings in said paired yokes, and tapered wedge blocks extending transversely through the transverse openings of said hinge bars and the tapered openings of said yokes for rigidly anchoring said hinge bars to said door.

2. In a dipper door structure having a closure door and hinge bars carrying the door for swinging movement between open and closed positions, each of said bars extending longitudinally along said door and each being provided with enlarged transverse openings therethrough, one adjacent each end of said door, said door being provided with a plurality of paired yokes, each pair straddling a bar and being positioned adjacent one of the openings therethrough, each of said paired yokes having tapered openings therethrough defining a substantially continuous taper from one side to the other of the hinge bar and being aligned with the opening through the hinge bar, the taper of the openings in opposite pairs of yokes being oriented in opposite directions, and a tapered wedge block for each of said aligned openings and extending therethrough transversely of said bars for cooperation with said paired yokes to firmly anchor the hinge bars to said door.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which each of said Wedge blocks is substantially hollow centrally but has a central beam extending from end to end thereof through said substantially hollow interior.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which each of said wedge blocks has an elongated beam extending centrally therethrough, and has web portions extending transversely of said beam and spaced-apart therealong to reinforce the block at the points of greatest force application thereto.

5. In a door structure adapted for use with dippers and the like for selectively opening and closing an opening to the interior thereof, a pair of hinge bars extending longitudinally in substantially parallel, spaced-apart relation along said door, said door being provided with a plurality of paired yokes, each pair being adapted to receive a hinge bar therebetween and a pair of yokes being provided for each hinge bar adjacent opposite ends of the door, each of said paired yokes having an opening extending therethrough transversely of said hinge bars and tapering from one Side to the other thereof, the tapered openings in the opposite paired yokes of the respective hinge bars being oriented in complementary relation, each of said hinge bars having an enlarged opening therethrough aligned with the tapered openings in said paired yokes, and tapered wedge blocks within said tapered openings and extending through said enlarged openings and bearing against said paired yokes and respective hinge bars to rigidly anchor the same to said door.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which the smaller ends of said wedge blocks are adjacent the center portion of said door.

7. The structure of claim 5 in which each of said wedge blocks has a substantially hollow center portion and is equipped with a beam extending longitudinally therethrough.

8. The structure of claim 5 in which each of said wedge blocks has a reinforcing beam extending centrally therethrough from end to end thereof and a plurality of spacedapart webs extending laterally from said beam, said webs being located at the points of greatest force application to the wedge block.

9. In a structure of the character described a closure door and a pair of hinge bars extending in spaced-apart relation with each other longitudinally along said door, a pair of yoke assemblies for each of said hinge bars and being carried by said door in spaced-apart relation along the respective hinge bars, each of said yoke assemblies comprising spaced-apart yoke members adapted to straddle a hinge bar and each being provided with an opening therethrough, the openings being tapered and providing from one side to the other a substantially uniform taper, the openings in the yoke members adjacent each of the respective hinge bars being tapered in opposite directions, said hinge bars having openings therethrough aligned with the tapered openings in said yoke members, and wedge tapered blocks within the aligned openings to anchor the hinge bars to said door.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which each of said hinge bars has a base flange adjacent said door, an outer flange spaced therefrom and a web extending therebetween, the opening through the hinge bars aligned with said yoke assemblies being through said web.

11. The structure of claim 10 in which each of said wedge blocks has a taper complementary with the taper of each of said tapered openings through said yoke assemblies, and in which each of said wedge blocks has a longitudinally extending beam therethrough and spacedapart webs extending laterally therefrom.

12. In a dipper structure, a pair of hinge bars pivotally supported by said dipper for swinging movement, a door carried by said hinge bars for movement between open and closed positions upon the swinging thereof, and means for securing said door to said hinge bars, said means comprising at least two yoke assemblies for each of said hinge bars and being carried by said door at spaced-apart intervals along said hinge bars, said yoke assemblies each providing a pair of yoke members oriented on opposite sides of the hinge bar, each hinge bar having a base flange adjacent said door, an outer flange spaced therefrom and a Web extending therebetween, an opening in each of said hinge bars in alignment with each yoke assembly and extending transversely through its web, each yoke member having a tapered opening therethrough aligned with the opening through said web and providing a substantially uniform angle of taper, said tapered openings in the yoke assemblies of each hinge bar facing in the same direction and the yoke assemblies for the opposite hinge bars being oriented in facing relation, and a tapered wedge block extending through each of said tapered openings and through the opening in said web and cooperating with said yoke 7 a members and said base flange to anchor said door to said hinge bars.

13. In a structure of the character described, a closure door'and a pair of hinge bars extending in spaced-apart relation with each other longitudinally along said door, a slightly compressible cushion member interposed between each of said hinge bars and said closure door, a pair of yoke assemblies for each of said hinge bars and being carried by said door in spaced-apart relation along the respective hinge bars, each of said yoke assemblies comprising a pair of spaced-apart yoke members adapted to straddle a hinge bar and each being provided with a tapered opening therethrough, the openings in the pairs of yoke members adjacent the respective hinge bars being tapered in opposite directions, each of the openings in the yoke members of each pair having "a complementary taper, said hinge bar having openings therethrough aligned With the tapered openings .in said yokemembers,

and Wedge blocks Within the aligned openings for pressing said hinge bars against said cushion members for anchoring the hinge bars to said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

